JUDGE DEBALLION PUTS FIXENS TO DISTURBERS OF THE PEACE

Crowley Signal June 13, 1903

Judge DeBallion is determined that there shall be fewer disturbances at public gatherings in this parish if such is within the power of the law to accomplish.

At the opening session of court Saturday, two young white men, Joseph Beard and Henry Miers, who reside near Church Point, were arraigned before the court charged with having disturbed a peaceful assembly near their home town. Both pleaded guilty to the charge with a hope of having some light fine imposed upon them. But such was not the case, and if they had any dreams to that effect they evidently were awakened with a start when Judge DeBallion passed their sentence. The were both fined $100 and costs and sentenced to serve ten days in the parish prison, and in default of the payment of the fine, to serve out a sentence of six months and be subject to road duty on the public highways.

Before passing the sentence on the young men Judge DeBalion explained to them the seriousness of their offense, and how such actions were likely to result in bloodshed. He declared that it was the privilege of any community to gather together for political, religious or amusement purposes, and that he intended that rowdyism on such occasions in this parish come to an abrupt end.

DISTRICT COURT PROCEEDINGS

Crowley Signal July 4, 1903

District Attorney Campbell made the following arraignments at the morning session of court:

D.S. Lyons charged with rape; plead not guilty. Case was fixed for July 7.

A. Robassa charged with stabbing with intent to kill, (who forfeited his bond by not appearing Thursday) plead not guilty. His bond was refixed at $500. and his case fixed for July 2.

Jake Schuler, for whom a bench warrant was issued Thursday was called for arraignment, but failed to appear. The court ordered him arrested and remanded to jail until summoned.

Mrs. Bud Doulas charged with larceny; plead not guilty; bond fixed at $25 and case filed for July 2.

C. Daigle & Co. vs. Christopher Lejeune; answer filed.

Antoine Aroze vs. Joseph W. Reagan; answer filed.

E.M. Boagni vs. Mrs. Carrie Castille; default

Jno. C. Platt vs. Alex. C. Murf; answer filed.

Gayton B. Greene vs. Morse Rice Mill Co.; answer filed.

Peoples Independent Rice Milling Co., Ltd. vs. G.W. Crawford; answer filed.

George Reinhart vs. Jennie D. Hamilton; answer filed.

Jno. A Mangus & Co. vs. X. Harme; answer filed.

Aline Sittig vs. Rene Tate; judgment rendered.

Southern Tobacco Co vs. L.W. Heinz; judgment confirmed.

E.H. Ellis vs. Columbus Deon; judgment confirmed.

Mrs. Annie E. Memon vs. J.A. Sigur; judgment rendered.

MONDAYS SESSION

Mondays session of district court witnessed the conviction of two of the prisoners who stood trial. Eugene Thibodeaux, a Frenchman, who has twice served sentence in the state penitentiary charged with cattle stealing, was convicted a third time. Sentence has not been passed.

Jos. Ward, the negro who was caught robbing the cash drawer of the Crowley State Bank, was tried on two counts entering without breaking and larceny. He was acquitted on the first count, but convicted on the second. Sentence will be passed on July 3.

District Attorney Wm. Campbell filed a bill of information against Charles A. Ward, charged with embezzling by the Eckardt Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Mr. Ward was in court, but his attorneys asked that he be not arraigned until this afternoon. His bond was fixed at $150.

DISTRICT COURT

Crowley Signal July 11, 1903

The jury in the case of Albert Robassa, charged by the state with having cut and stabbed one George Reinhart thirteen times with intent to kill, brought in a verdict late Thursday afternoon of guilty.

This case has been watched with no little amount of interest by the people of this city because of the fact that Reinhart is alive today after having been cut and stabbed thirteen times in the neck, face and head by Robassa on Sunday evening June 7. It was not thought at first that Reinhart could live through the night but to the surprise of all he is now almost fully recoverd. His voice, however, has almost been lost. Robassa was sentenced to spend two years.

Robassa was represented by A.R. Breeland, and it was his maiden case before the bar of this parish. He handled the case for the defense in a most able manner, but the odds were greatly against him from the first.

Mondays Session

Monday was sentence day in the district court. Judge DeBallion decided upon the punishment of five of those who have either plead guilty or been found guilty at this term of court.

F.L.P. Tyler, who for the past two years been a foreman for W.W. Duson, and who plead guilty to the charge of grand larceny, was sentenced to serve three years in the state penitentiary.

Enos Andrepone, who was convicted of the burglary of a saloon at Iota, was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary.

Jules (If this is the same Thibodeaux listed earlier he was then named Eugene) who twice before served sentences in the penitentiary for cattle stealing was given three years on the same charge.

The case of Ernest Babin charged with having killed Louis Thibodeaux at the Hunter Mill, has occupied the day in court.

Wednesdays Session

The courtroom was crowded when the morning session convened. During Tuesday afternoon the jury in the case of the State vs. D.S. Lyons was completed and the large crowd that assembled this morning was congregated for the purpose of hearing the testimony.

The jury who are to decide whether or not the evidence Mr. Lyons is sufficient to convict him of the capital offense with which he is charged are William Way, Mack Robinson and R.M. Townley of Prairie Hayes; Timothy Ragen, Will Killmer and Frank Scanlan of Abbott; Walter Heath, J.L. West, A. M. Fontenot, John Fontenot, J.M. Portis and John McAyeal of Crowley. When brought into court this morning by Jailer Johnson he was greeted by a number of his friends. District Attorney Campbell then rose and turned to the jury with the indictment against Mr. Lyons, which he read to them.

Judge DeBallion then instructed Mr. Campbell to proceed with the prosecution for the State. Mr. Campbell asked that the first witness called be Jena Lyons, the daughter of D.S. Lyon, on whom it is alleged the assault was committed.

Then the girl entered the court room a frightened look took possession of her. She seemed excited.

The questions directed to her by District Attorney Campbell were direct and her answers were equally candid. She declared in no uncertain tones that her father was guilty of the assault he is accused of having made on her. She told the circumstances and details pertaining to the deed, but became badly mixed in her dates. She could remember the dates when she had been whipped by her father but her memory failed her when it came to remembering the date of the alleged assault was committed.

Before Jena Lyons finished her testimony in the morning she collapsed under great strain. The defense finished with the witness at the noon hour.

When court convened at 2 oclock this afternoon Doyle Lyons, son of D.S. Lyons, was called to testify for the State. The witness stated that he was twenty years of age and was the person who made the affidavit against his father. He claims that he returned from Texas June 20 and was told by his sister Jena that her father had treated her in an improper manner. After holding the stand a few minutes the witness was excused and the defendant was placed on the stand

The defendant in the case is represented by Story and Pugh and John J. Robira of Rayne. District Attorney Campbell is alone in the prosecution.

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Mr. Lyons took the stand and spoke in a manner which showed that he was hurt rather than angry. He admitted to whipping the girl but did not do anything that was inappropriate. He was acquitted.